“Of course.” Felix nodded. “It’s obvious to everyone who knows him. He’s brilliant — no man can contest that. He spends as much time studying the wisdom of the world as any of our greatest scholars. More than that, though, he is a man of morals. Unlike the heathens who sat on the throne before him, he believes in a creator of the universe and will stand up for what is right.”

“Sounds too good to be true,” Certrus commented.

“Maybe. But I’ve known him long enough myself to tell you he’s almost certainly the real deal. He’s thirstier for knowledge, that remarkable man, than you are for the wine dribbling down your chin.”

Certrus hastily wiped the droplets of wine from his face. “So he has the best of both worlds, then? Money, power, prestige, and a grasp on the wisdoms of the world?” Certrus took another gulp of wine. “Must be nice.”

“I’m sure he’s a very happy man,” Felix said.

“Don’t be too sure, though, until you ask him.”

The last voice to speak was a familiar one to the two guests.

“Your Majesty! I-we didn’t see you s-s-s—”

“Standing behind you, yes? Eavesdropping. I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”

The king nodded toward the empty wine flask.

“Enjoying the wine, Certrus?”

“Oh, yes…”

“It’s been aged for many years, just so that one day, it might be taken from the dusty storage cellar, poured into beautiful flasks, and poured into these pretty goblets. Quite a journey. Everything has its purpose, everything has its time, yes?”

Felix and Certrus glanced at one another.

“Yes, Your Majesty. M-much like your kingdom—” Felix grimaced, unsure what he was indeed saying.

“Would you care to elaborate?”

“Well, um—” Felix hesitated, but suddenly clarity filled his mind. “These palace walls were built long before you ever existed, were they not? And how many wars were waged, lives lost on the battlefield, so that one day, today, you could be standing here, ruler of the entire kingdom?”

“Yes, I see his point, Your Majesty.” Certrus was also suddenly animated with insight. “The royal treasury, for example. How many previous kings sweated and gave up years of their lives worrying about the treasures within that room, exhausting not only their own strength to amass that wealth, but also the strength and blood of countless soldiers, endless military campaigns. All so that it should one day be yours alone.”

The king’s lips trembled, and his smile shrank.

“So that one day…” the king’s eyes stared off into the distance, “…it will all be someone else’s…”

The three men fell into silence.

Felix and Certrus looked at one another in fright. Had they upset the king at his own birthday party?

Certrus shivered, and the wine goblet slipped through his sweaty fingers and plummeted to the floor. CRASH! Wine splashed into the air.

“Oh no! I am so sorry! Your Majesty, I can’t believe I—”

“Please.” The king waved his hand. “Don’t apologize.”

Servants rushed forward, cleaning up the spilled wine and broken glass.

The king stared at the slivers of broken goblet pieces…. How quickly it all fades. One day, he, too, would be broken, when his time came, and his body was laid to res—

“Your Majesty! Is everything all right?”

The king looked up, his servant staring at him in concern.

“Yes, yes, of course.” The king began to push his way through the crowd, making a mad dash for the exit.

People surrounded him from all sides, eager to see him, to touch him, the mighty king, the most powerful man in the land.

“Away! Make room!”

The king found himself screaming, and the crowd shrank back in fear. Soldiers pushed toward the king, flinging people aside. The king barged through the doors leading out of the dining hall at the same time his soldiers caught up with him.

“Your Majesty! Is everything all right?”

“No, nothing’s all right.” The king turned, flustered, and breathing heavily. “I’ve had a moment of clarity, and now my mind is on fire.”

“Your Majesty…?”

“Do you think if I explained myself to you, you would suddenly understand? No, you can’t grasp how deeply this insight has struck me. It’s always been there, lurking in the back of my mind, but now… now I finally realize that all I’ve done in my life is worth nothing. Nothing! One day, when I pass, all I’ve worked for will pass to another!”

The king turned to his wide-eyed soldiers.

“Leave me!”

The king never did return to that party. He spent the rest of the day inside his room. In the past, he would gaze at his beautiful palace rooms and receive immense pleasure. If that didn’t work, then gazing at his seemingly endless palace grounds would always cheer him up. But today, nothing helped lift his dark mood.

The king quickly strode to his massive library of books. Lost among thousands of books in multiple languages he had taught himself to read and speak, he once again found himself wallowing in fear and despair.

“All of this wealth, all of this knowledge, where will it go?”

The king’s voice echoed around him. But none were there to offer him an answer.

Nighttime had fallen, and the king stepped over to the large library window. He stared out at the star-filled sky, and his eyes rested upon the moon. White light bathed the palace grounds in an eerie glow.

“There is one who can help me.” The king’s fingers dug into the windowsill. “The stargazer….”

to be continued… 

(Originally featured in Mishpacha Jr., Issue 951)